Bifurcated shaft for surgical instrument

ABSTRACT

A surgical instrument includes a shaft having a proximal end and a bifurcated distal end defining a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion. An end effector assembly is disposed at the distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members. One (or both) of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members defines an opposed jaw surface and is independently coupled to one of the first and second shaft portions. The first and second shaft portions are configured to flex relative to one another during movement of the jaw members to the closed position to grasp tissue therebetween such that the opposed jaw surfaces of the jaw members are disposed in substantially parallel orientation relative to one another when grasping tissue therebetween.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments and, more particularly, to bifurcated shafts for use with surgical instruments.

2. Description of Related Art

Electrosurgical instruments (e.g., surgical forceps) are well known in the medical field, and typically include a handle, a shaft, and an end effector assembly that is operatively coupled to a distal portion of the shaft to manipulate tissue (e.g., grasp and seal tissue). Electrosurgical instruments utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to effect hemostasis by heating the tissue and blood vessels to coagulate, cauterize, seal, cut, desiccate, and/or fulgurate tissue.

As an alternative to open electrosurgical instruments for use with open surgical procedures, many modern surgeons use endoscopes and endoscopic electro surgical instruments (e.g., endoscopic forceps) for remotely accessing organs through smaller, puncture-like incisions. As a direct result thereof, patients tend to benefit from less scarring, fewer infections, shorter hospital stays, less pain, less restriction of activity, and reduced healing time. Typically, the endoscopic electrosurgical instrument is inserted into the patient through one or more various types of cannulas or access ports (typically having an opening that ranges from about five millimeters to about twelve millimeters) that has been made with a trocar.

Conventional electrosurgical instruments include a pair of jaw members that have a common pivot point (e.g., a pivot pin) disposed towards proximal ends thereof that facilitates manipulation of the jaw members between open and closed positions. In addition, the pivot point facilitates application of pressure by the jaw members to tissue grasped therebetween by preventing the opposed jaw surfaces from moving away from each other at the proximal ends of the jaw members. In this manner, when tissue is grasped between the opposing jaw members, a V-shaped configuration is defined therebetween since the distal ends of the jaw members are further away from each other than the proximal ends of the jaw members. When smaller-diametered tissue is grasped between the jaw members, the V-shaped configuration does not create any substantial problems, since the opposing jaw members are substantially parallel and relatively close to each other. However, when larger-diametered tissue is grasped between the jaw members, the opposing jaw surfaces are not substantially parallel to each other and further away from each other, thus inhibiting complete closure of the jaw members. More particularly, when larger-diametered tissue is grasped between the jaw members, the current density applied to tissue grasped therebetween during surgical treatment (e.g., fusion or ablation) tends to be substantially higher at the proximal end of the jaw members than towards the distal portion thereof, which creates uneven tissue fusion, or uneven ablation.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes a shaft having a proximal end and a bifurcated distal end defining a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion. An end effector assembly is disposed at the distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members. One or both of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members defines an opposed jaw surface. Further, each of the jaw members is independently coupled to one of the first and second shaft portions. The first and second shaft portions are configured to flex relative to one another during movement of the jaw members to the closed position to grasp tissue therebetween such that the opposed jaw surfaces of the jaw members are disposed in substantially parallel orientation relative to one another when grasping tissue therebetween.

In one embodiment, the opposed jaw surfaces define electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces adapted to connect to a source of energy for sealing tissue grasped therebetween.

In another embodiment, the first and second shaft portions are configured to flex relative to one another to achieve a uniform closure pressure between the jaw members when grasping tissue therebetween. The closure pressure may be in the range of about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm² during tissue sealing.

In still another embodiment, the first and second shaft portions are configured to flex relative to one another to achieve a uniform gap distance between the jaw members during tissue sealing.

In yet another embodiment, the shaft is bifurcated about a vertical axis thereof to define a first side shaft portion and a second side shaft portion. Alternatively, the shaft may be bifurcated about a horizontal axis thereof to define an upper shaft portion and a lower shaft portion.

In still yet another embodiment, each of the jaw members is independently coupled to one of the first and second shaft portions via a floating pivot.

In another embodiment, a cowling disposed about a portion of the bifurcated shaft and/or the jaw members. The cowling is configured to limit flexing of the first and second shaft portions relative to one another and/or may be disposed within a recess, or notch to retain the cowling in position about the bifurcated shaft and/or jaw members.

A surgical instrument provided in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a shaft having a proximal end and a bifurcated distal end defining a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion. An end effector assembly is disposed at the distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members, each defining an opposed jaw surface. The first jaw member is coupled to the first shaft portion via a first floating pivot and the second jaw member is coupled to the second shaft portion via a second floating pivot independent of the first floating pivot. The first and second jaw members are rotatable about the first and second floating pivots, respectively, relative to one another between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. The first and second floating pivots are moveable relative to one another as the jaw members are rotated to the closed position for grasping tissue therebetween such that the opposed jaw surfaces of the jaw members are disposed in substantially parallel orientation relative to one another when grasping tissue therebetween.

In one embodiment, the opposed jaw surfaces define electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces adapted to connect to a source of energy for sealing tissue grasped therebetween.

In another embodiment, the first and second floating pivots are moveable relative to one another to achieve a uniform closure pressure between the jaw members during tissue sealing, e.g., between about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm².

In another embodiment, the first and second floating pivots are moveable relative to one another to achieve a uniform gap distance between the jaw members during tissue sealing.

In still another embodiment, the shaft is bifurcated about a vertical axis thereof to define a first side shaft portion and a second side shaft portion. Alternatively, the shaft may be bifurcated about a horizontal axis thereof to define an upper shaft portion and a lower shaft portion.

In yet another embodiment, the first and second shaft portions are configured to flex relative to one another to permit movement of the first and second floating pivots relative to one another.

In still yet another embodiment, a cowling is disposed about a portion of the bifurcated shaft and/or the jaw members to limit movement of the first and second floating pivots relative to one another. Further, the cowling may be disposed within a recess, or notch to retain the cowling in position about the bifurcated shaft and/or jaw members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiment of the subject instrument are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is a front, perspective view of a surgical instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure including a vertically bifurcated shaft;

FIG. 1B is a front, perspective view of a surgical instrument in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure including a horizontally bifurcated shaft;

FIG. 2 is a front, cross-sectional view of the vertically bifurcated shaft of FIG. 1A taken along section line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, side, elevational view of the vertically bifurcated shaft of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4 is a front, cross-sectional view of the horizontally bifurcated shaft of FIG. 1B taken along section line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, side, elevational view of the horizontally bifurcated shaft of FIG. 1B; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side, elevational view of the vertically bifurcated shaft of FIG. 1A including an elastic band disposed about a distal portion of the bifurcated shaft and a portion of an end effector assembly thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the presently-disclosed surgical instrument are described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. As used herein, the term “distal” refers to that portion of the instrument that is that is further from a user, while the term “proximal” refers to that portion of the instrument that is closer to a user.

In accordance with the present disclosure, an electrosurgical instrument is provided to include an end effector assembly having two opposing jaw members that are independently coupled to a shaft having a bifurcated configuration at a distal portion thereof. The bifurcated shaft includes two flexible half shafts that are configured to bend or flex away from each other when pressure is exerted therebetween. Each of the jaw members are pivotally coupled to the respective flexible half shaft at a respective floating pivot point such that each jaw member may independently move away from the other when grasping and sealing tissue therebetween. In this configuration, the flexible half shafts flex or bend away from each other to allow the jaw members to pivot towards a parallel configuration instead of a V-shaped configuration. A more detailed explanation of the novel bifurcated shaft having floating pivot points and various embodiments thereof is discussed in greater detail below.

Turning now to FIG. 1A, an embodiment of a surgical instrument 10 is shown for use with various surgical procedures and generally includes a housing 20, a handle assembly 22, a trigger assembly 28, a switch 30, a rotating assembly 32, and an end effector assembly 50 having jaw members 52 and 54 that mutually cooperate to grasp, seal, and divide tubular vessels and vascular tissue.

Surgical instrument 10 also includes a shaft 40 that has a proximal portion 40 a and a vertically bifurcated distal portion 40 b that mechanically engages end effector assembly 50, as will be described in greater detail below. As schematically depicted in FIG. 1A, a longitudinal axis “Z-Z” is defined along shaft 40, a horizontal axis “X-X” axis is defined in a transverse relation to longitudinal axis “Z-Z,” and a vertical axis “Y-Y” is defined in a perpendicular relation to both longitudinal axis “Z-Z” and horizontal axis “X-X.”

In some embodiments, electrosurgical instrument 10 may include an electrosurgical cable 300 that connects electrosurgical instrument 10 to a source of electrosurgical energy 310 (e.g., a generator). Cable 300 is internally divided into several cable leads (not explicitly shown) such that each transmits electrical potentials through their respective feed paths through electrosurgical instrument 10 to end effector assembly 50. In other embodiments, electrosurgical instrument 10 may include an internal source of electrosurgical energy (not shown) that is disposed within housing 20, for example, but not limited to a battery. In some embodiments, electrosurgical energy may be transmitted to sealing surfaces 56, 58 (FIG. 3) of jaw members 52, 54, respectively, by switch 30 to treat tissue grasped therebetween. Switch 30 is disposed on housing 20 such that when jaw members 52 and 54 are in the closed configuration, a user may initiate the delivery of electrosurgical energy to jaw members 52 and 54 by conveniently manipulating switch 30.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, handle assembly 22 includes a fixed handle 24 and a movable handle 26 that are configured to be manipulated by a user. Fixed handle 24 is integrally associated with housing 20 and handle 26 is movable relative to fixed handle 24 as explained in greater detail below with respect to the operation of surgical instrument 10. Rotating assembly 32 is operatively connected to the housing 20 and is rotatable in either direction about longitudinal axis “Z-Z” to similarly rotate end effector assembly 50 about longitudinal axis “Z-Z.” More particularly, when rotating assembly 32 is rotated by a user in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, shaft 40 is similarly rotated which, in turn, rotates end effector assembly 50 in the respective clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

For a more detailed description of handle assembly 22, rotating assembly 32, and electrosurgical cable 300 (including line-feed configurations and/or connections) reference is made to commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,766,910 to Hixson et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,697 to Dycus et al.

As best shown in FIG. 2, in conjunction with FIG. 1A, shaft 40 includes proximal portion 40 a and bifurcated distal portion 40 b. Proximal portion 40 a of shaft 40 mechanically engages a distal portion of housing 20 and is received within housing 20 such that appropriate mechanical and electrical connections relating thereto are established. Vertically bifurcated distal portion 40 b of shaft 40 has a split-shaft configuration that includes a first half shaft 42 and a second half shaft 44. First half shaft 42 and second half shaft 44 each include a respective vertical planar surface 42 a and 44 a that are substantially parallel to each other and along vertical axis “Y-Y.” Vertical planar surfaces 42 a and 44 a are separated from each other to define a space 43 therebetween.

First half shaft 42 and second half shaft 44 are joined together at a mid-portion 40 c (FIG. 1A) of shaft 40. In some embodiments, shaft 40 includes a one-piece configuration from mid-portion 40 c to proximal portion 40 a. First half shaft 42 and second half shaft 44 are monolithically formed onto shaft 40, or, alternatively, each of first half shaft 42 and second half shaft 44 may be separately attached at mid-portion 40 c of shaft 40. In some embodiments, first half shaft 42 and second half shaft 44 have resilient or biasing characteristics to withstand and react to pressure exerted by jaw members 52 and 54 when grasping tissue therebetween and/or during tissue sealing, as will be described in greater detail below with respect to the operation of electrosurgical instrument 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 3, end effector assembly 50 is pivotally attached to vertically bifurcated distal portion 40 b of shaft 40. As discussed above, end effector assembly 50 includes a pair of jaw members 52 and 54 that are configured to pivot relative to each other. Movable handle 26 is operatively connected to shaft 40 that mechanically cooperates to impart movement of the jaw members 52 and 54 from an open position (FIG. 1A) wherein the jaw members 52 and 54 are disposed in spaced relation relative to each other, to a clamping or closed position (FIG. 3) wherein the jaw members 52 and 54 cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween.

Each jaw member 52, 54 is independently coupled to distal portion 40 b of shaft 40. More particularly, jaw member 52 is pivotally coupled to first half shaft 42 by a pivot pin 46 a (e.g., at a pivot point) and jaw member 54 is pivotally coupled to second half shaft 44 by a pivot pin 46 b (e.g., at a pivot point). Alternatively, jaw member 52 may be pivotally coupled to second half shaft 44 by a pivot pin 46 b and jaw member 54 may be pivotally coupled to first half shaft 42 by a pivot pin 46 a. Pivot pins 46 a and 46 b have a floating pin configuration. In this floating pin configuration, each jaw member 52, 54 is pivotally coupled to respective flexible half shaft 42, 44 by a respective floating pivot pin 46 a, 46 b such that each jaw member 52, 54 may independently move away from the other, along vertical axis “Y-Y” (see FIGS. 1A and 2) when tissue is grasped therebetween. In this manner, each flexible half shaft, namely first half shaft 42 and second half shaft 44, flexes and/or bends to allow the respective jaw member 52, 54 to pivot via the respective floating pivot pin 46 a, 46 b towards a parallel configuration, thus preventing the jaws from maintaining the V-configuration during the grasping and sealing of tissue therebetween. With this purpose in mind, first half shaft 42 and second half shaft 44 may be configured to maintain a predetermined pressure exerted by jaw members 52 and 54 during a sealing procedure.

Additionally or alternatively, first half shaft 42 and second half shaft 44 may be configured to apply and/or exert a predetermined threshold pressure towards jaw members 52 and 54. In any of these scenarios, jaw members 52 and 54 are configured to pivot to a closed and substantially parallel configuration, in combination with the first half shaft 42 and second half shaft 44, while maintaining the predetermined threshold pressure to properly effectuate a tissue seal.

In one embodiment, the combination of the mechanical advantage of the floating pin configuration along with the compressive force associated with vertically bifurcated distal portion 40 b of shaft 40 facilitates and assures consistent, uniform and accurate closure pressure about the tissue within the desired working pressure range (e.g., sealing threshold pressure) of about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm² and, more specifically, about 7 kg/cm² to about 13 kg/cm². By controlling the intensity, frequency and duration of the electrosurgical energy applied to the tissue, the user can effectively treat tissue (e.g., seal tissue).

In this manner, two mechanical factors play an important role in determining the resulting thickness of the sealed tissue and effectiveness of the seal, i.e., the pressure applied between opposing jaw members 52 and 54 and the gap distance “G” between opposing sealing surfaces 56 and 58 of jaw members 52 and 54 during the sealing process. However, the thickness of the resulting tissue seal cannot be adequately controlled by force alone. In other words, if too much force is exerted, jaw members 52 and 54 may touch and possibly create a short resulting in little energy traveling through the tissue, and thus resulting in a bad tissue seal. If too little force is exerted and the seal would be too thick.

Applying the correct force is important to oppose the walls of the vessel and to reduce the tissue impedance to a low enough value that allows enough current through the tissue. In other scenarios, the correct force is important to overcome the forces of expansion during tissue heating, to ensure adequate force is applied as tissue is “cooked down,” or contracted during the sealing process, in addition to contributing towards creating the required end tissue thickness, which is an indication of a proper seal. As such, the tissue impedance may be monitored during sealing to help ensure that an adequate tissue seal is formed.

In some embodiments, at least one jaw member, e.g., 54, may include one or more stop members (not explicitly shown) that limits the movement of the two opposing jaw members 52 and 54 relative to one another. The stop members (not explicitly shown) may extend from the sealing surface 56, 58 of either of both of jaw members 52, 54, respectively, at a predetermined distance according to the specific material properties (e.g., compressive strength, thermal expansion, etc.) to define a minimum gap distance between jaw members 52, 54 during tissue sealing. It is envisioned that the minimum gap distance between opposing sealing surfaces 56 and 58 of jaw members 52, 54 during sealing ranges from about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches and, more specifically, between about 0.002 and about 0.005 inches, to inhibit shorting between the sealing surface 56, 58 as tissue is “cooked down,” or contracted during the sealing process.

In some embodiments, as best shown in FIGS. 1A and 3, each jaw member 52, 54 may include a cam slot (not explicitly shown) that corresponds to a respective cam slot 47 a, 47 b defined on each of first half shaft 42 and second half shaft 44. To facilitate movement of jaw members 52 and 54, driving pins 48 a and 48 b are mechanically coupled to jaw members 52 and 54, respectively, to allow opening and closing of jaw members 52 and 54. Driving pins 48 a and 48 b independently float with respect to each other and are mechanically coupled to handle assembly 22 (e.g., handle 26) via a respective driving mechanism (not explicitly shown) to facilitate opening and closing of jaw members 52 and 54. More specifically, upon depression of moveable handle 26, the driving mechanism (not explicitly shown) urges drive pins 48 a, 48 b distally along slots 47 a, 47 b, respectively, to move jaw members 52, 54 towards the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3. On the other hand, when handle 26 is released, or moved back to its initial position, the driving mechanism (not explicitly shown) pulls drive pins 48 a, 48 b proximally along slots 47 a, 47 b, respectively, such that jaw members 52, 54 are returned toward the open position.

As discussed above, jaw members 52 and 54 of end effector assembly 50 are pivotally coupled to respective first and second half shafts 42 and 44, and are remotely operable by handle assembly 22 to open and close jaw members 52 and 54. In particular, end effector assembly 50 may be configured as a bilateral assembly, e.g., where both jaw members 52 and 54 are moveable relative to one another, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 3, or may alternatively be configured as a unilateral assembly, e.g., where only one of jaw members 52, 54 is moveable relative to the other, stationary jaw member 52, 54.

During movement of jaw members 52 and 54 from the open position to the closed position, jaw members 52 and 54 pivot toward each other and bifurcated shafts 42, 44 may flex to allow pivot points 46 a, 46 b of jaw members 52, 54, respectively, to move away from each other. In this configuration, jaw members 52 and 54 can orient themselves in a substantially parallel configuration such that sealing surfaces 56, 58 are substantially parallel to one another along the lengths thereof. This allows jaw members 52, 54 to rotate about pivot pins 46 a and 46 b, while at the same time aligning themselves in parallel fashion. As discussed above, the floating pivot pin configuration allows pivot pins 46 a, 46 b to move away from each other to allow the jaw members to be parallel to each other. In this configuration, a threshold pressure and desired gap distance “G” between sealing surfaces 56, 58 is readily achievable during tissue sealing, even if the size of tissue is altered during application of energy thereto, e.g., as a result of tissue contraction, or “cook-down.” Thus, by maintaining an accurate and consistent pressure and gap distance “G,” during application of electrosurgical energy to sealing surfaces 56, 58, throughout the sealing process, an effective tissue seal may be formed.

As discussed above, when jaw members 52 and 54 are approximated to the closed configuration and a threshold pressure is reached, first and second half shafts 42 and 44 are configured to “break” or discontinue application of closure pressure. In other words, the flexing, or bending of the shaft halves 42, 44 limits the pressure applied to tissue grasped between jaw members 52, 54 to a threshold pressure and ensures that the jaw members 52 and 54 are closed about tissue in a substantially parallel orientation relative to one another, thus ensuring a consistent and accurate gap “G” therebetween throughout the tissue sealing process. On the other hand, if tissue is contracted during the tissue sealing process, shaft halves 42, 44 are flexed, or bent back to ensure that the desired closure pressure is maintained, i.e., such that the closure pressure does not fall too low.

Turning now to FIGS. 1B and 4-5, another embodiment of a surgical instrument 100 similar to surgical instrument 10, is described. Surgical instrument 100 is similar to surgical instrument 10 described above with reference to FIGS. 1A and 2-3 and, thus, will only be described generally, while focusing on the differences between surgical instrument 100 and surgical instrument 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1B and 4-5, end effector assembly 150 includes a pair of opposing jaw members 152 and 154 each having an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface 156 and 158, respectively. Jaw members 152 and 154 cooperate with each other to grasp tissue therebetween, as substantially described above with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-3.

Surgical instrument 100 further includes a shaft 140 having a proximal portion 140 a, a mid-portion 140 c, and a bifurcated distal portion 140 b. Proximal portion 140 a of shaft 140 mechanically engages a distal portion of housing 20 and is received within housing 20 such that appropriate mechanical and electrical connections relating thereto are established. Bifurcated distal portion 140 b of shaft 140 is similar to bifurcated distal portion 40 b of shaft 40 (FIGS. 1A and 3), except that bifurcated distal portion 140 b of shaft 140 is split along a horizontal plane relative to horizontal axis “X-X” (rather than the vertically-bifurcated split of shaft 40).

Horizontally bifurcated distal portion 140 b of shaft 140 has a split-shaft configuration that includes a first half shaft 142 and a second half shaft 144. First half shaft 142 and second half shaft 144 are separated from each other to define a space 143 therebetween, as best shown in FIG. 4. First half shaft 142 and second half shaft 144 are joined together at mid-portion 140 c of shaft 140. In some embodiments, shaft 140 includes a one-piece configuration from mid-portion 140 c to proximal portion 140 a. First half shaft 142 and second half shaft 144 are monolithically formed onto shaft 140, or, in the alternative, each of first half shaft 142 and second half shaft 144 may be separately attached at mid-portion 140 c of shaft 140. In some embodiments, first half shaft 142 and second half shaft 144 have resilient or biasing characteristics to withstand and react to pressure exerted by jaw members 152 and 154 when grasping and sealing tissue therebetween, as will be described in greater detail below with respect to the operation of surgical instrument 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 1B and 5, end effector assembly 150 is pivotally attached to horizontally bifurcated distal portion 140 h of shaft 140. As discussed above, end effector assembly 150 includes a pair of jaw members 152 and 154 that are configured to pivot relative to each other. Movable handle 26 is operatively connected to shaft 140 to impart movement of the jaw members 152 and 154 from an open position (FIG. 1B) wherein the jaw members 152 and 154 are disposed in spaced relation relative to each other, to a clamping or closed position (FIG. 5) wherein the jaw members 152 and 154 cooperate with each other to grasp tissue therebetween for sealing and other types of surgical treatments.

Each jaw member 152, 154 is independently coupled to distal portion 140 b of shaft 140. More particularly, jaw member 152 is pivotally coupled to first half shaft 142 by a floating pivot pin 146 a and jaw member 154 is pivotally coupled to second half shaft 144 by a floating pivot pin 146 b. Floating pivot pins 146 a, 146 b permit jaw member 152, 154 to independently move away from one another along horizontal axis “X-X” when tissue is grasped therebetween. In this manner, each flexible half shaft 142, 144 flexes to allow the respective jaw member 152, 154 to pivot via the respective floating pivot pin 146 a, 146 b towards a parallel configuration instead of maintaining the known V-configuration when grasping and sealing tissue therebetween

FIG. 5 shows surgical instrument 100 grasping tissue between jaw members 152, 154. Once jaws members 152 and 154 are fully compressed about tissue, electrosurgical energy may be supplied to sealing surfaces 156, 158 to seal tissue. The factors, parameters and additional features discussed above with respect to end effector assembly 50 (FIGS. 1A and 3) for adequately sealing tissue apply similarly to end effector assembly 150 and, thus, will not be repeated.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1A and 1B, in some embodiments, a suitable mechanical mechanism may be provided within bifurcated shafts 40, 140, to keep the bifurcated shaft halves 42, 44 and 142, 144, respectively, in an initial position, e.g., wherein shaft halves 42, 44 or 142, 144 are substantially un-flexed or un-bent, for traditional operation of shafts 40, 140 and end effector assemblies 50, 150, respectively, until a sufficient opposition force is present to flex, or bend the shafts halves 42, 44 and 142, 144, respectively, to ensure substantially parallel closure of jaw members 52, 54 and 152, 154, respectively.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, jaw compression pressure (and the maintenance of the shaft halves in the initial position) may be facilitated by a cowling 202 (e.g., an elastic band). Cowling 202 may surround at least a portion of end effector assembly 50 and/or the bifurcated shaft (e.g., shaft 40). More particularly, cowling 202 is disposed about pivot 46 a (FIG. 1) and pivot 46 b, coupling pivots 46 a, 46 b to one another to ensure adequate jaw compression pressure of jaw members 52 and 54 about tissue. Cowling 202 may be disposed within a notch or recess (not explicitly shown) defined within jaw members 52, 54 to retain cowling 202 in position relative to jaw members 52, 54 and/or to reduce the overall diameter of end effector assembly 50. Further, a biasing member, (e.g., a spring) (not shown) may be utilized to provide added jaw compression pressure to end effector assemblies 50, 150, in addition to, or in place of cowling 202.

While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A surgical instrument, comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a bifurcated distal end defining a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion; an end effector assembly disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly having first and second jaw members, at least one of the jaw members moveable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members defining an opposed jaw surface, each of the jaw members independently coupled to one of the first and second shaft portions; wherein, the first and second shaft portions are configured to flex relative to one another during movement of the jaw members to the closed position to grasp tissue therebetween such that the opposed jaw surfaces of the jaw members are disposed in substantially parallel orientation relative to one another when grasping tissue therebetween; and a cowling retained within a notch defined within at least one of the shaft or the jaw members, the cowling configured to limit flexing of the first and second shaft portions relative to one another.
 2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the opposed jaw surfaces define electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces adapted to connect to a source of energy for sealing tissue grasped therebetween.
 3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the first and second shaft portions are configured to flex relative to one another to achieve a uniform gap distance between the jaw members during tissue sealing.
 4. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the first and second shaft portions are configured to flex relative to one another to achieve a uniform closure pressure between the jaw members during tissue sealing.
 5. The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the closure pressure between the jaw members is in the range of about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm² when grasping tissue therebetween.
 6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is bifurcated about a vertical axis thereof to define a first side shaft portion and a second side shaft portion.
 7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is bifurcated about a horizontal axis thereof to define an upper shaft portion and a lower shaft portion.
 8. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein each of the jaw members is independently coupled to one of the first and second shaft portions via a floating pivot.
 9. A surgical instrument, comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a bifurcated distal end defining a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion; an end effector assembly disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly having first and second jaw members, each jaw member defining an opposed jaw surface, the first jaw member coupled to the first shaft portion via a first floating pivot, the second jaw member coupled to the second shaft portion via a second floating pivot independent of the first floating pivot, the first and second jaw members rotatable about the first and second floating pivots, respectively, relative to one another between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween, the first and second floating pivots moveable relative to one another as the jaw members are rotated to the closed position for grasping tissue therebetween such that the opposed jaw surfaces of the jaw members are disposed in substantially parallel orientation relative to one another when grasping tissue therebetween; and a cowling retained within a notch defined within at least one of the shaft or the jaw members, the cowling configured to limit flexing of the first and second shaft portions relative to one another.
 10. The surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the first and second floating pivots are moveable relative to one another to achieve a uniform closure pressure between the jaw members when grasping tissue therebetween.
 11. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the closure pressure between the jaw members is in the range of about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm² during tissue sealing.
 12. The surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the opposed jaw surfaces define electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces adapted to connect to a source of energy for sealing tissue grasped therebetween.
 13. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the first and second floating pivots are moveable relative to one another to achieve a uniform gap distance between the jaw members during tissue sealing.
 14. The surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the shaft is bifurcated about a vertical axis thereof to define a first side shaft portion and a second side shaft portion.
 15. The surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the shaft is bifurcated about a horizontal axis thereof to define an upper shaft portion and a lower shaft portion.
 16. The surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the first and second shaft portions are configured to flex relative to one another to permit movement of the first and second floating pivots relative to one another. 